The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-26
NOT GUILTY AS CHARGED
Such Was the Verdict That Gave Alf
ISaacS His Freedom Yesterday.
The Jury Deliberates Nearly Fortnight
Hours Before Reaching an Agreement
The First Ballot Resulted in Tie.

1t was twenty minutes past IL o'clock yester-
Criminal Court room. in company with mis- little
son, free man. Nearly everybody believed that
the jury had disagreed, and at o'clock yester-
day morning three or four hundred people
crowded into the courtroom, expecting to see
the jury report that they had no verdict Shortly
after Judge Irwin appeared. but as no word had
been received from the jury. he refused to inter
fere with them, and as it was known that they
would either return verdict. or report that they
could not agree, not later than noon, tiresome
wait began. The clock was just striking IL
o'clock when the foreman raped upon the door
of the jurys little room, and when bailff
Boswell appeared. notified him that verdict
had been agreed gpon Deputy Sheriff Langen-
berg was sent for the prisoner When Isaacs
was told they had agreed upon verdict, he said:
''Im ready for the result. whatever it may be,
and all fear is that they have disagreed When
he took his seat in the courtroom, beside his
counsel, he displayed little uneasness, but when
the twelve weary looking men marched into the
room and took their seats. he became very ner
vous, and gave evidence that it was very try
ing ordeal for him.
Judge Irwin instructed the spectators to in
dulge in no demonstration when the verdict was
announced, and then, turning to the jury said:
Gentlemen, have you agreed upon q verdict9'
1--WE have" replied Mr.. Morris, the foreman.
Pass it up to the clerk"
Clerk ODonnell unfolded small piece of pa
per and read:
We the jury find the defendant not guilty as
charged in the indictment.
J. T. MORRIS Foreman.
When the reading was finished there was
suppressed demonstration of approval, and many
of Isaacs's friends rushed forward congratulate
him. Before meeting any of them he went over
to the jury and shook hands with each Of them.
and then. turning to Deputy Hoffman. he shook
hands with him, and said he bore him no malice
for the vigorous prosecution he had made, for he
knew he was only doing his duty. He hastily
received the congratulation of his friends. and
then hurried home to notify his family of his
good luck.
The first ballot of the jury resulted in a tie
six for conviction and six for acquittal 1t stood
that way until late Saturday night. when seven
voted for acquittal Early Sunday morning
there were only four who voted for conviction,
but on a subsequent ballot the number was
changed back five. There was no other
change until yesterday morning, when nine
voted for acquittal At 9 o'clock but one juror
voted for conviction. and an hour later he came
over to the eleven, and the verdict was signed
and sealed. In all thirty-two ballots were taken.
Jurors Yeager and Hamilton held out longest
for conviction. Mr. Yeager was the eleventh
man to change, and it took considerable areu-
ment to bring over Mr.. Hamilton, the twelfth
man.
Major Mitchell is out of the city, but Deputy
Prosecutor Hoffman says he cannot say yet
what further action will be taken to ferret out
the crime. 1t is certain that, with the evidence
now at hand, one can ever be convicted, and
it is probable that the will 60 into history to
await its own solving.